For Mary Portas, queen of shops, small is beautiful on the high street

Mary Portas remains deeply committed to retail as the British high street rebuilds. She earned the title 'queen of shops' after transforming Harvey Nichols in the 1990s and has advised numerous big-name brands through her consultancy, Portas. Now she is channelling that experience into championing small, independent businesses that, she says, 'create the much-needed vibrancy and fresh thinking that our high streets and economy desperately need.' In partnership with Mastercard and Worldpay, Portas has curated Thrive Street Retail Market, a series of pop-up events in October at Altogether Otherwise in Manchester’s NOMA and the Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, each featuring 15 community-minded businesses she selected.

Across two long weekends the markets will showcase products with 'purpose, character and innovation' — from eyewear and pre-loved fashion to homeware and jewellery — bringing together ideas you might not normally see in the same place.

United Kingdom, Manchester and London

mary portas, high street, independent businesses, pop-up market, thrive street, altogether otherwise, noma, truman brewery, brick lane, mastercard